News » 04.09.2024 - India: Women drive the dry flower business in Nagaland

 

In Nagaland, dried flowers are a common sight in markets and stores. Many locals believe that the practice started in the 1990s in a bid to prevent fresh flowers from decaying and to prepare for the seasons during which certain flower varieties do not bloom.

While Nagaland's geography and climate support many seasonal flowers, they are not available throughout the year, and this prompted the development of preservation techniques to extend their aesthetic value.

Zuchano Kithan, a flower enthusiast who currently works at a financial institution, says, "Growing up in Wokha (a town near Kohima) in the 1990s, my sisters and I cultivated seasonal flowers, especially ornithogalum (grass lily). We would plant them in our houses. Once the season got over, we would notice that potted flowers would dry up, and their white hues transformed into an elegant off-white shade. We started hanging the flowers upside down to preserve their beauty. My father is also quite fond of wildflowers and during his outings in the forest, he would bring them home and dry them."

However, the flower-drying tradition that began as a necessity has become a livelihood option for many women. These women sell bouquets, bookmarks, and all kinds of flower decorations at shops, pavements, and markets.

 

Source: www. idronline.org
 

« Back